Threatening Text Message Prompts S.C. District Security Alert

A threatening text message received by a Lexington-Richland School District Five teacher on the same day emergency crews evacuated Irmo High School due to smoke in the building has prompted the district to implement extra security measures and law enforcement to investigate the source of the message.

"I'm about to burn Lexington-Richland District 5 to the ground." That's the text message an unnamed teacher appeared to have received from well-known local attorney and former GOP executive Todd Kincannon Friday morning. The teacher reported the threat to a school resource officer who then relayed the information to the Richland County Sheriff's Department.

District officials learned of the message just before fire crews were dispatched to Irmo High School after somebody discovered smoke coming from a vent inside the building. The problem was later traced to a motor in a heating and air conditioning unit.

Officials determined that the incident at Irmo High School and the text message were unrelated.